1887 Charles Smith Pictorial Map of London

An uncommon 1887 pictorial map of London by Charles Smith and Son. Centered on the Royal Courts of Justice, the map extends from Kensington Palace to the Tower of London and from Islington Green to Kennington Oval and Park. London's developing transportation network is highlighted in red. Important monuments and even parks are highlighted with vignette illustrations of the buildings themselves.

The Map in Context

Stylistically, the map is modeled after similar maps of Paris that were issued in the late 19th to the early 20th century for the 'Grand Tour' tourist market. They were intended both to promote the city's wonder and be a useful tool to get around and navigate the train system. We have rarely seen maps of the same style illustrating London.

History of the Map

The present map was first issued by Charles Smith and in 1867 and went through at least 8 iterations. The earliest versions of this map were monochrome, as color printing had not yet become readily available for mass market productions. At least 7 subsequent editions followed, each offering minor updates to the content reflecting the construction boom London was then experiencing. The present example, 1887 or the 7th state, is one of the first editions to employ a striking full four-color printing process. It also extends the scope of the map east of the Tower of London to include most of Whitechapel.